Category: trucking news

What Can Be Turned Into A Semi Truck?

Posted on May 1, 2014 by - Expresstrucktax.com, mini semi truck, trucking news

You ever see a golf cart or a motorcycle and think – Man, that would make a great semi-truck? Granted it would not be a full size diesel beast (insert Tim the Tool Man grunt) but it sure would be a Looker. I have been wondering what heavy-hauler enthusiast can turn into a semi-truck, so join me in an ExpressTruckTax exclusive edition of – What Can Be Turned Into A Semi-Truck…

Golf Carts Make Great Trucks
This lovely little gem was created by Classy Carts and is actually used for golfing. When looking at a plain golf cart, who could image that you can create this. Check out the video, this Mini Peterbilt can really fly. photocredit: classycarts.com
Semi Truck GoKart

When you want to cruise the streets and your truck is just too big….swap it out for the mini version. You will catch everyone’s attention if you roll down the street (or to Sonic) in this Little Kenworth. 
Motorcycle Semi Truck

This MotoRig is ready for any Bike Rally! The trailer is decked out as living quarters – too cool. MotoRig has made appearances at the world’s most famous biker gatherings including my favorite, Sturgis. The builder should stop by MATS next year so we can get a closer look. photocredit: cyrilhuzeblog.com

Maple Tree Semi Truck


Now I know you have looked at a Maple Tree and said – That would make a perfect Semi – we all do that, right? Well get ready to have your mind blown, someone actually did create a solid maple rig (not full size heavy hauler but just as awesome)! Based on a 1974 Autocar this wood truck runs and has a functional 2 into 1 exhaust and complete fifth wheel. photocredit: dailydieseldose.com

With a bit of imagination and a dash of creativity any vehicle can be turned into One Baaaaaaad Rig. What would you like to be seen turned into a Semi Truck?

National Distracted Driving Month

Posted on April 24, 2014 by - American Trucking Association, National Distracted Driving Month, trucking news

April is National Distracted Driving Month! ExpressTruckTax would like to thank the entire trucking industry for educating drivers on staying focused. The American Trucking Association, along with America’s Road Team is urging motorists to put their cell phones away and focus on safe driving while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.

In 2012, more than 3,300 people were killed and another 421,000 were injured in distraction-related crashes. In order to reverse this trend, elite drivers are educating the motoring public on how to save lives while driving on our nations’ roads. 
*America’s Road Team Captains, professional truck drivers selected for their impressive driving records and commitment to safety, are educating motorists on the dangers of distracted driving. Distracted driving comes in many forms. It can include electronic distractions, like navigation systems and cell phones, or more conventional distractions, like interacting with passengers and eating. Here are the distracted driving stats & safety tips provided by the ATA:
Did You Know?

 – Writing or reading a text message takes your eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. At 55 MPH, that’s like driving the length of a football field completely blindfolded.

 – If you text while you’re behind the wheel, you’re 20 times more likely to be involved in a crash than a non-distracted driver.

 – Talking on a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity devoted to driving by 37%

 – 41 states, the District of Columbia and Guam ban text messaging for all drivers

 – 12 states and the District of Columbia prohibit hand-held cell phone use by all drivers.

 – Young people are especially at risk: In 2011, 11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.
Safety Tips:
  • Stay Focused – Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road at all times. One small distraction can cause an accident.
  • Put Electronics Away – Put your cell phone away, as well as all electronics, while behind the wheel. Nothing is more important than getting to your destination safely.
  • Plan Your Trip – Plan your route ahead of time so you aren’t distracted looking at a map or navigation system. Pay attention to highway signs and traffic.
  • Be Aware of Blindspots – Trucks have large blindspots in front, back and either side. Try to avoid lingering in this space and do not cut in front of a truck.
  • Be a Good Passenger – Speak up if the driver in your car is distracted.
“Motorists need to take responsibility for safety as they navigate our roadways and keep their eyes on the road,” said America’s Road Team Captain – Eddie Weeks, a professional driver with AAA Cooper Transportation. “Putting cell phones away, planning your trip and keeping your eyes on the road will save lives.”
The America’s Road Team would like to remind the motoring public that from driveway to highway, safety requires patience and dedication. 
*The America’s Road Team, sponsored by Volvo Trucks, is a national public outreach program led by a small group of professional truck drivers who share superior driving skills, remarkable safety records and a strong desire to spread the word about safety on the highway. For more information visit: www.americaroadteam.com 

Trucking News: NTSB Pushing For Blind Spot Systems, Trailer Guards And Better Data Collection

Posted on April 8, 2014 by - NTSB, truck regulations, trucking news

Overdrive Online posted new regulations the National Transportation Safety Board is pushing to have in place for new trucks. The NTSB is recommending that regulations be put in place to require new trucks to be equipped with systems to boost blind spot awareness, side and rear underride guards, and to require that better data be collected on trailers involved in crashes.

The NTSB made these recommendations last week to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in a letter from outgoing NTSB Chair Debora Hersman, who requested NHTSA respond within 90 days:

  • To prevent accidents cause by blind spots – particularly those involving what NTSB calls “vulnerable road users,” pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists – NTSB recommends that tractor-trailers with a GVWR of more than 26,000 pounds “be equipped with visibility enhancement systems.”
  • To protect passenger car drivers in the event of side impact – which NTSB says made up 15% of fatal two-vehicle crashes between a truck and a passenger car in 2011 – NTSB recommends that NHTSA require new trailers to be equipped with “side underride protections systems” like guards to prevent “intrusion” into passenger vehicles from trailers. NTSB also recommends similar guards be required for trailer rears.
  • Lastly, NTSB made three recommendations about collection of trailer data:
             1) NHTSA add trailer VIN and model year to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System database
             2) Add a field to include trailer license plate numbers in the next edition of the Model Minimum                                                      Uniform Crash Criteria guideline
             3) Add a field to include trailer VIN numbers in the next edition of the Model Minimum Uniform                                                      Crash Criteria Guideline.

The NTSB’s recommendations are designed to prevent accidents and save lives. You can view the entire report sent by NTSB Chair Debora Hersman with detailed information about each recommendation.

Trucking Moves America Forward

Posted on April 3, 2014 by - OOIDA, Trucking Moves America Forward, trucking news

ExpressTruckTax was at MATS this past weekend where something new and exciting for the entire trucking industry was introduced. This “something new” did not come in a form or a truck or company but an industry-wide image and education campaign launched by a diverse group of trucking stakeholders.

Right off the bat it doesn’t sound that important, but the Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF) campaign, introduced by OOIDA’s Todd Spencer on March 26th, is described to build an image of drivers – as a means to attract new workers to the industry and change negative public perception – as working professionals in an industry that plays a huge role in the U.S economy. (Hopefully this campaign will help the driver shortage)
Spencer, who was one of about five speakers in a lineup that also included 2 drivers, talked about the key points of the theory behind the campaign, but he also took a more pointed approach in his address, pushing the American driver as the most important piece of trucking’s puzzle.
Spencer ended with these words, “Those behind the wheel [are] clearly the most important people in trucking. Without them we are absolutely nothing and without them this industry doesn’t exist. If you want somebody to feel good about themselves and want them to make [driving] their future, give them a reason. Make them know they’re appreciated.”
TMAF Mission:
The TMAF mission is to establish a long-term industry-wide movement to create a positive image for the industry, to ensure policymakers and the public understand the importance of the trucking industry to the nation’s economy.
What TMAF does:
Every day, millions of trucks travel across the United States to help move America forward. Whether you are a student, mother, homeowner, doctor, business executive or politician, you depend on trucks to deliver essential foods, medicines, office supplies, computers, cribs, and other products that help you live every day. Most Americans don’t realize how essential trucks are to their lives until there is a severe weather or adverse condition that prevents trucks from delivering. But the fact is trucks are critical to our national and global economy, to our families, to our businesses, and so much more. When they stop moving, the country stops moving.
By telling the TMAF story – educating the public and working with policymakers at the state and federal level – we can ensure that the trucking industry remains the thriving industry it is today. 

Peterbilt’s 75th Anniversary Tour

Posted on April 1, 2014 by - Peterbilt, Peterbilt anniversary tour, trucking news

Today is the official kick off of Peterbilt’s Diamond Anniversary Tour at JX Peterbilt in Indianapolis. For more than 75 years, Peterbilt has been a preferred and trusted brand for drivers. Peterbilt’s new Model 579 Anniversary Edition and exhibition trailer will be touring the country, making stops at dealerships and industry events.

Peterbilt History:
Peterbilt was founded in 1939 by T.A. Peterman manufacturing specialized, heavy-duty trucks out of Oakland, Calif. Largely a regional brand in its early years, the company experienced steady growth, quickly going from producing dozens to hundreds of vehicles. The company was acquired by PACCAR Inc, then called Pacific Car & Foundry, in 1958, and the manufacturing was relocated to Newark, Calif. in 1960. That decade the company’s truck output, market share and distribution network grew significantly. Peterbilt opened a new, second plant in Madison, Tenn. in 1969 to meet demand and better serve its customers from coast to coast.

In 1980, a new manufacturing facility opened in Denton, Texas, a city where the company eventually consolidated its entire operations and is now its headquarters. Today, the state-of-the-art plant can produce more than 160 vehicles daily in numerous custom-built configurations for on-highway and vocational markets.

“Throughout its history, Peterbilt strove to serve the needs of customers with a diverse lineup of custom built trucks that served specific business and market needs,” said Landon Sproull, Peterbilt Chief Engineer. “Today our comprehensive offerings of Class 5-8 vehicles help our customers achieve success in the on-highway, vocational and medium duty markets. Our focus on designing vehicles with superior fuel efficiency, low maintenance requirements, leading longevity and unparalleled performance sets Peterbilt apart from the competition. It’s part of a proud tradition we carry on today stronger than ever.”

Sproull notes that Peterbilt’s two newest vehicles – the aerodynamic Model 579 and the vocational Model 567 – represent the company’s most rigorous, significant investment in product development in its 75 year history.

Limited Edition Model 579:
“It’s a truly unique tribute to both Peterbilt past and future,” said Robert Woodall, Peterbilt Director of Sales and Marketing. “It combines the Model 579’s advanced technologies, distinctive styling and state-of-the-art aerodynamics with numerous accents and detailing honoring the Original 1939 Peterbilt.”

The Model 579 Anniversary Edition tractor will be pulling a custom-built, double-expandable, 53-foot trailer with educational and entertaining displays. The museum is a converted trailer filled with displays, historic artifacts and interactive kiosks. The tour schedule includes 80 stops throughout the US and Canada, and will run into November.

ExpressTruckTax congratulates Peterbilt for 75 years of making the industry’s most iconic vehicles. Can’t wait for the tour to reach Charlotte July 14 at the Rush Peterbilt.

CARB: Proposed Amendments To Truck & Bus Emissions Regulations for California

Posted on March 13, 2014 by - CARB proposed amendments. Emissions regulation, trucking news

CARB ( California Air Resource Board) announced proposed amendments to its Truck and Bus Regulation. CARB says the proposed amendments provide drivers who are trying to company with the emissions regulations with some flexibility while still giving consideration to the ‘important emission benefits the regulation provides.’

The amendments were proposed after stakeholders and, more importantly, truck drivers voiced concerns about their ability to comply with regulations.

ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols said, “The trucking community spoke and we listened. The good news is that we will not have to sacrifice the state’s air quality goals to assist fleet owners. These amendments, which include more flexible deadlines and increased opportunities to access incentive funding, will further our emissions reduction goals by better ensuring that fleets can meet the requirements of the regulation.”

Many predicted, and were sadly correct, the cost of compliance would put many small California carriers out of business and prevent non-compliant out-of-state trucks from entering the state.

The California Resource Board will discuss the proposed amendments at the April 24 Hearing.

What are the proposed changes?

  • A longer phase-in period for diesel particulate matter (PM) requirements for trucks that operate exclusively in certain rural areas with cleaner air;
  • Additional time and a lower cost route for all small fleet owners to meet their PM compliance requirements, while reopening opportunities for these fleet owners to apply for and receive public incentive funding;
  • A compliance route for owners currently unable to qualify for a loan to finance required upgrades;
  • Adjusted schedules for low-use vehicles and certain work trucks;
  • Recognition of fleet owners who took action to comply by providing additional “useable life” for retrofit trucks and reducing near-term compliance requirements.

What will happen if it is approved?
If the board approves the amendments, carriers and owner/operators who have already made investments to their trucks will be provided with additional benefits. The proposed amendments provide flexibility to small fleets, lower mileage fleets, and fleets from areas that are also working for cleaner air.

ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols responded, “We recognize the huge investments that many business owners have already made in order to meet the requirements of the Truck and Bus Regulation. Their efforts have gone a long way toward helping us to meet our mandatory deadlines and we applaud them for what they have accomplished.”

Overall these amendments would also ensure that, by 2020, the annual emission reductions would be at the same level as the existing regulation.

We will keep you posted on any new developments of the California Truck and Bus Emissions Regulations, for more information visit – Proposed Amendments to the Truck and Bus Regulation